NO COERCION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 6

NO COERCION

CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS ATTITUDE OF THE MINISTER GREAT BENEFITS A! AIL.4BLE Asked by the Wanganui Education Board lor an expression ol policy with regard to cor-solidation oi schools, the Minister c£ Education (Hon. I’. Fraser) stated on Monday that all the evidence pointed overwhelmingly in favour of consolidation, but he would adopt an attitude of forbearance and notning in the shape oi coercion would oe used. ”1 prefer to try and win the parents rather than coerce them," the Minister stated, adding that it parents only realised tile advantages to be obtained as the result of consolidation they would not destitute to foster it. In ihe Auckland District, he said, the demand for consolidation could not be met. The Farmers’ Union had taken the matter up and the department was being constantly asgeo to put consolidation schemes into operation. "Parents should also understand that there is small likelihood of anysaving of expense by introducing consolidation,” Mr Fraser added. "They should not get the idea that their children are being sacrificed for economy.’’ He said tiiat in some cases a small saving might be made, but generally speaking, th? expense measures up about even. “So there is nothing to be gained from the point of view of economy but a great deal in the cause of efficiency,” the Minister pointed out. “In no case which I know of have the oarents gone back on consolidation. If they were opposed to it in cases where it now operates • they are now in favour of it.” The Minister detailed the precautions taken in regard to road convey-

ances, and said that it was his ob« ject to convince people of the advantages of consolidation and in some cases a certain amount of decisive action would be taken. So far as the Wanganui district is concerned the largest consolidation scheme in operation centres on Taihape, where three schools have been diverted to the town. Another project, as yet in the negotiation stage, centres round Rata and Silverhope. Back in October, consequent upon a suggestion that the Rata School be rebuilt on a new site, the question of consolidation with Hunterville was raised, and by a three to one majority, a meeting at Rata approved cT it. Subsequently, owing to delay in the matter of conveyance of secondary school children occasioned by the alternative of opening the secondary department at Hunterville or sending the patronage to Marton, the matter was allowed to lag. A meeting was held at Rata on ivfonday night and attended by representatives of the Wanganui Education Board and by Mr A. F. McMurtrie, M.A., senior inspector attached to the Education Department. It has been decided, as a result of that meeting, to take a referendum of parents of pupils attending the Rata and Silverhope Schools. Another consolidation project the Wanganui Board has in contemplation, affects Rongotea and several adjacent schools. It Is proposed to make Rongotea a big central school, but, so far, only one of the contributory schools i? agreeable.